this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2024
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I'm losing my mind. This old graphics tablet connects to the PS/2 port on an old PC for power. There's a separate serial cable for the actual data connection. I want to supply it power without needing to connect it to a PS/2 port, so an adapter for USB would be ideal.

I know others have achieved this but I can't find the details. Can anyone help? The search results are full of Playstations because it misinterprets the "PS/2" part.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

“Ps2 to usb adapter -playstation”

Seems to work. Also I have one in a box out in my garage if you want to borrow that one

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Also I'd suggest addig "IBM" to the query

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

GC46MF

Part number for startech PS2 to usb adapter

Probably won't work due to the higher power of serial compared to usb though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Maybe the part I heard about is specially made to account for that too. Hmm. Thanks, I'll look into it further. Edit: according to this video (3 minutes, 15 seconds mark), the adaptors do work.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5ixZhIxMus&t=228

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

You could always look into a PCIe serial card for the serial port, and the PS2 to usb adapter. Still unsure if it'll work but it's pretty cheap stuff to test out

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Try searching for a "6 pin mini-DIN to usb adapter"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Are you sure that's not an 8 pin serial connector? It doesn't look like PS/2 from this angle

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The other end looks like the PS/2 DIN connector.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

8 pin serial can come in a round format like that. It looks slightly too large to be PS/2, and the other end being serial implies that this is a serial cable

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I don't have it with me because I'm helping someone remotely, but I'm almost certain it's a PS/2 connection from a previous video call we had. I'll double check though because that's a good point you make. I should look out for that possibility.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Usually you can't just patch USB to ps/2 pins. Others called out voltage might not be the same even if you aren't using data.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

You sure can with keyboard and mouse. Did that in the early days. Pretty sure I tossed that adapter though. Don't have any ps/2 ports anymore.